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USWNT’s Mallory Swanson focuses on rehab away from the World Cup

Mallory Swanson is missing from the USWNT’s World Cup roster after tearing her patella tendon in April. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

U.S. women’s national team and Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson hasn’t had much time to think about anything other than her rehab these days. The 25-year-old phenom has been hard at work on her journey back to the field after suffering a torn patella tendon in an April friendly that kept her off the USWNT 2023 World Cup roster.

Swanson’s injury was one of the cruelest twists of fate, as one of the USWNT’s most in-form strikers saw her whole year change in an instant. Just last week, Swanson posted her first rehab update to Instagram. The video showed her getting touches on the ball with a member of the Red Stars training staff.

“First touches in three months,” read the caption, suggesting the forward’s recovery has remained on a linear timeline, something not all of her injured USWNT teammates have been granted.

Speaking with Just Women’s Sports on Wednesday, Swanson said she has been focused on not getting too ahead of herself in her recovery, instead taking everything one day at a time.

“It’s been good, recovery has been good,” she said. “I think that being able to kind of take a break and recover and rehab, and also still be a part of something that’s bigger than that rehab process, like being here, that has been really, really good for me.”

“Here” is a gallery in New York City’s Meatpacking District, at a four-day exhibit set up by Women’s World Cup sponsor Frito-Lay and Women’s Sports Foundation to celebrate the game and its culture.

Despite having the opportunity to play abruptly taken away from her, Swanson has stayed connected to the tournament by continuing her work with committed brands. In addition to juggling her rehab, she’s stayed involved with Cracker Jill (an offshoot of Cracker Jack) to interact with young athletes in women’s sports.

“Being able to connect with them because I was once in their shoes, and now I’m here (is) cool, in like a full-circle moment,” Swanson said.

Those brand relationships can sometimes be awkward for an athlete who is managing the emotions of not being able to be on the field themselves. But for Swanson, the opportunities are a welcome connection to the larger movement of the World Cup.

“I think sometimes when we’re so involved on the field, obviously we’re busy and everything, so it’s been nice to kind of take the time away to do that off the field,” she said.

Outside of helping grow the game in a new way, Swanson is living a life parallel to her teammates in New Zealand. She hasn’t watched much of the action so far, catching just the second half of the USWNT’s 3-0 win over Vietnam on Saturday (she has a good excuse, having spent the weekend at her best friend’s wedding).

She also hasn’t connected much with her teammates across the globe, instead giving them the space they need to be at their best.

“I know firsthand how (important it is) to focus on the games and that’s what you have to do,” Swanson said. The person she kept in closest contact with prior to the tournament was newly-named co-captain Lindsey Horan, but Swanson said she has since let her teammate focus on the task at hand.

“I’m excited just to see some of my best friends go out on the world stage, and just continue to show how great they are and continue to inspire so many people,” she added.

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Swanson said she kept in close contact with Lindsey Horan before the World Cup. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Swanson is rooting for the U.S. to bring back their third straight World Cup trophy. And in typical fashion for an elite athlete, Swanson is focused on returning to her sport’s biggest stage with the same intensity that she approaches games.

“I don’t have downtime. It is all rehab, just focusing on that,” she said of her day-to-day schedule.

“I’ve learned that it’s just a process, and yeah, I think that you can just enjoy it. As much as it might not be fun, I think that there’s still so much positive that you can get out of it.”

Swanson is excited both to get back on the field and to see how the biggest Women’s World Cup in the history of the sport takes hold in the U.S. For her personally, the journey isn’t over yet, and she’s learned to let go of what she can’t control.

“I think if there’s one thing that I have learned, it’s that any plan that you have can get flipped upside down real quick,” Swanson said. “I have no idea what the rest of the year holds. I’m just taking everything as it comes.”

Claire Watkins is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @ScoutRipley.

2026 WNBA All-Star Game Set to Take Over United Center in Chicago

A'ja Wilson and Angel Reese dance and banter during the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game.
The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game will be played at the United Center in Chicago. (Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

WNBA All-Star Weekend is returning to the Windy City, with the league announcing Thursday that it will hold the 2026 All-Star Game in Chicago next summer.

The game will tip off on Saturday, July 25th, inside the 20,917-seat United Center, while the 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge will take place the night before at the 10,380-capacity Wintrust Arena, home to the Chicago Sky.

"The WNBA is thrilled to bring AT&T WNBA All-Star back to Chicago, which will undoubtedly deliver unforgettable competition and community outreach," said commissioner Cathy Engelbert in Thursday's statement. "Together with the Chicago Sky, we look forward to celebrating the game's brightest stars, engaging WNBA fans around the world, and showcasing the energy of one of basketball's most iconic cities."

The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game will mark Chicago's second time hosting the midseason event after the 2022 edition landed in the Windy City.

"We can't wait to build on the success of the previous All-Star Game and celebrate the explosive growth of the league by showcasing the WNBA's biggest stars on a world-class stage," Chicago Sky CEO and president Adam Fox said.

While the first All-Star Game in Chicago took place at Wintrust Arena, next year's stage includes a significant venue upgrade to the United Center.

The Sky played their first-ever games at the Bulls' NBA arena this past season, taking on the Indiana Fever for two regular-season 2025 WNBA matchups.

"We're ecstatic to host the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game and build on the two sell-out Chicago Sky games played at the United Center this year," said United Center VP of booking Jerry Goldman.

The WNBA will be eager to showcase its growth since its last All-Star visit, as investment — both internal and external — remains a hot topic heading into the league's 2026 season.

Knee Injury Sidelines Trinity Rodman from NWSL Play, USWNT Friendlies

Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman looks on during pre-game warm-up before a 2025 NWSL match.
Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman exited her team's midweek 2025/26 Concacaf W Champions Cup match with a knee injury. (Jamie Sabau/NWSL via Getty Images)

USWNT and Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman has been sidelined, with the forward set to miss the rest of the 2025 NWSL season after exiting her club's 4-0 2025/26 Concacaf W Champions Cup win over Monterrey with a knee injury on Wednesday — hours after earning her first national team call-up since April.

The Athletic reported on Thursday that Rodman will be off the pitch for at least three weeks — encompassing the final NWSL regular-season matches as well as October's USWNT friendlies — though Thursday's scans showed she avoided long-term injury and could return to compete in the 2025 NWSL Playoffs.

Washington head coach Adrián González further clarified Rodman's status on Friday, confirming that the Spirit winger has a low-grade MCL sprain — a result the manager called "the best scenario."

Rodman's knock interrupts a strong run of play for the 23-year-old, who registered five goals and two assists since recovering from a lingering back injury in August.

Sitting second in the NWSL standings, the Spirit already secured home field advantage for the upcoming playoffs, but the 2024 runners-up will see a potential postseason preview against a resurgent Orlando Pride this weekend.

The reigning NWSL champions earned two wins in their last three matches, rising to No. 3 on the league table after going winless through nine straight NWSL games.

"I think home field advantage is massive," Pride head coach Seb Hines said last week. "We experienced that last year. So if we can finish as high as possible, we can play here in front of our own fans."

How to watch the Washington Spirit vs. Orlando Pride this weekend

The No. 2 Spirit will host the No. 3 Pride at 12:30 PM ET on Saturday, with live coverage airing on CBS.

NWSL Teams Face Domino-Effect Clinching Scenario for 2025 Postseason

North Carolina Courage midfielder Manaka Matsukubo hugs forward Hannah Betfort after Betfort's goal during a 2025 NWSL match.
A result from the North Carolina Courage could determine the 2025 postseason fates of multiple NWSL teams this weekend. (Soobum Im/NWSL via Getty Images)

As NWSL teams race towards November 2nd's Decision Day with 2025 playoff positioning on the line, a single result on Friday could determine multiple postseason fates.

Sitting four points outside of contention, No. 9 North Carolina will visit No. 13 Bay FC on Friday night, with a Courage loss clinching playoff berths for No. 4 Gotham, No. 5 Seattle, No. 6 San Diego, and No. 7 Portland.

A North Carolina loss would also put No. 10 Angel City and the No. 11 Houston Dash in must-win scenarios in order to remain in contention for the final playoff spot with No. 8 Racing Louisville.

Following 2023's dramatic final matchday results, the NWSL reintroduced the league's simultaneous-kickoff Decision Day format this year, but the 2025 season's slim margins plus a few scheduling idiosyncrasies could see the postseason door swing shut prematurely.

North Carolina needs at least a draw plus a Gotham win to survive elimination, while the five teams currently above the postseason cutoff line — except Gotham and Louisville, who will play each other on Sunday — only need a win to secure their destiny regardless of Friday's outcome, while Houston and ACFC drop out of play.

While supporters of each club will hope for clarity before next week's international break, fans of NWSL chaos will be rooting for a high-stakes 2025 Decision Day finale on Sunday, November 2nd.

How to watch Bay FC vs. NC Courage on Friday

The potentially decisive match between the North Carolina Courage and Bay FC will kick off at 10 PM ET on Friday, with live coverage airing on Prime.

WNBA Star Caitlin Clark Returns to The Annika Pro-Am

WNBA star Caitlin Clark tees off at The Annika Pro-Am in 2024.
WNBA star Caitlin Clark will play in The Annika Pro-Am 2025, returning to the LPGA Tour event for the second straight year. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is hitting the links again, returning to The Annika Pro-Am to show off her golf game on the 2025 LPGA Tour following a WNBA season rife with injuries.

The annual event will take place at the Pelican Golf Club in Tampa on Wednesday, November 12th, and will be open to the public.

"I had an amazing time at The Annika last November and participating in the Pro-Am alongside Nelly Korda and Annika Sörenstam, two of the best in the game," Clark said in a Thursday press release.

One of Clark's sponsors, Gainbridge, also backs the annual competition, with The Annika serving as the penultimate stop in a parity-filled, up-and-down 2025 LPGA season.

"[Clark] added such a great dynamic to our event [last year], and her passion for golf and competitiveness were fun to witness firsthand," the tournament's namesake, retired Swedish golf pro Annika Sörenstam, said of the 23-year-old basketball star. "I look forward to having her back and continuing to introduce the great game of golf to the next generation."

How to buy tickets to The Annika Pro-Am

Fans can watch the WNBA star tee off at the 2025 edition of The Annika Pro-Am in Tampa on Wednesday, November 12th.

Tickets to the event are on sale now at TheAnnika.com.

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